Respecting Privacy and Public Records — Respecting Privacy and Public Records

Verifying personal details requires balancing public interest with strict legal privacy boundaries. The Privacy Act of 1974 establishes a general rule of 'no disclosure without consent,' which is subject to exactly twelve statutory exceptions.

These exceptions include disclosures required under the Freedom of Information Act or made for law enforcement requests. Understanding these twelve exceptions is key when attempting to access federal records for research purposes.